Former Pakistan PM Khan granted bail by 'anti-terror' court: party

• 

Pakistan's former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, was granted bail Thursday on charges brought under the country's "anti-terrorism act," according to a party official, allowing him to continue his nationwide rallies calling for early elections.

Khan's appearance in court is the latest twist in months of political wrangling that began in April when he was ousted by a vote of no confidence in the national assembly, which Khan slammed as US-instigated. 

However, the former cricketer maintains widespread support, holding mass rallies in which he rails against the establishment and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government, which he claims was imposed on Pakistan by a "conspiracy" involving the US.

Although no court decision was immediately available, Fawad Chaudhry, a former information minister and senior party official, stated that Khan had been granted "interim bail" until September 1.

"We are not satisfied with this decision. Instead, the court should have quashed the case," he said

Since losing power, Khan and other senior members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have faced a slew of charges.

The country's rulers have a history of using the police and courts to silence political opponents, and Premier Sharif has several pending cases brought against him while he was in opposition.

The latest charges against Khan stem from remarks he made at a rally over the weekend in which he criticized a magistrate for keeping a PTI official in police custody after party leaders claimed he was tortured.

What does Khan demand? 

Khan's main goal is an early general election, but the government has shown no signs of wanting to hold one.

He was elected in 2018 by an electorate tired of the country's two major parties' dynastic politics, promising to sweep away decades of entrenched corruption and cronyism.

Over the weekend, Pakistan's media watchdog prohibited television stations from broadcasting Khan's live addresses, claiming he was "spreading hate speech."

"His provocative statements against state institutions and officers... is likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity," the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority said.

Khan charged under "anti-terror law"

Khan was charged with violating "anti-terrorism" laws after allegedly threatening a female judge and two senior police officials at a rally in Islamabad.

A video taken at Imran Khan’s residence shows that police surrounded his residence hours after a police report was filed against him.

The report against Khan includes testimony from magistrate judge Ali Javed, who described being at the Islamabad rally and hearing Khan criticize the inspector-general of Pakistan’s police and another judge.

Read next: Pakistan's ousted PM Imran Khan leads protest march in Islamabad

During his speech at the rally, Khan threatened to file his own charges against Judge Zeba Chaudhry, two police agencies, the Pakistani Election Commission, and other political opponents, warning that they would face "consequences" for their treatment of his Chief of Staff, Shahbaz Gill. 

He had organized the rally in Islamabad's F-9 Park in support of Gill, who was arrested on sedition charges last week.

Later that night, the country's digital media watchdog, PEMRA, barred satellite stations from airing the speech – or any upcoming live addresses from Khan – unless a time-delay mechanism was in place "to ensure effective monitoring and editorial control."